Combined dispensing carton and attached collapsible measuring cup



MUM, H3, 1956 D. L. ECKLEY 9 9 COMBINED DISPENSING CARTON AND ATTACHED COLLAPSIBLEJ MEASURING CUP Filed Jan. 24.. 1955 INVENTOR. QOROTH) A. Emu/5y ATTORNEY COMBINED DISPENSING CARTON AND AT TACHED COLLAPSIBLE MEASURING CUP Dorothy L. Eckley, Denver, Colo. Application January 24, 1955,,SerialNo. 483,590 6 Claims. (Cl. 222 424.s

This invention relates to dispensing containers; and more particularly, a dispensing carton combined with a measuring device.

A number of common products used in the household, particularly of the granulated and powdered variety, are packaged in cardboard cartons provided with a pour opening located in a position such that the contents of the carton may be easily poured therefrom. Some of the more common examples of this type of product are soap, detergents, cereal, sugar and the like. Oftentimes it is necessary to pour out a predetermined amount of the product for a particular purpose. A conventional measuring cup is not always available at the time and the user is left to hazard a guess as to the quantity that has been poured. Obviously, when this is done the quantity dispensed is seldom accurate resulting in many a ruined recipe or perhaps a washing machine overflowing with soapsuds.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a dispensing carton in combination with a collapsible measuring cup which is attached to the carton in position to receive the contents thereof whenever needed.

A second object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible measuring cup which may be used in combination with the conventional dispensing cartons.

A third object of the invention is to provide a combination dispensing carton and measuring cup by means of which the contents of the carton may be accurately measured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive measuring cup which may be disposed of along with the carton.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawing which follows, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper portion of an open dispensing carton with a collapsible measuring cup attached thereto in position to receive the contents of the carton;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a sealed dispensing carton with a collapsible measuring cup attached thereto and folded inside; and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the collapsible measuring cup.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral represents a conventional carton of the type used to package dry materials. A pour opening 12 is customarily located in the carton at the corner formed by the top wall 14 and one end wall 16. The portion of the end wall 16 along the lower edge of the pour opening 12 is usually perforated to form tear line 18 which is broken to free flap 20 of the end wall 16 and thus provide pour opening 12. If desired, a section 22 of the top wall adjoining flap 20 may be torn free of the side walls 24 to enlarge the pour opening.

The measuring cup 26 is formed of a material that can be easily collapsed and folded such as paper, thin sheet ice plastic and the like. The cup is provided with a flap 28 extending from its rim 30. Flap 28 is attached to the end wall 16 along the lower edge of the pour opening formed by tear line 18. Thus, the cup is suspended beneath the pour opening in position to receive the contents of the carton as they are dispensed therefrom as shown in Figure 1. As soon as a small quantity of the material in the carton is placed in the bottom of the cup the additionalwei ght thus added tends to maintain the cup in an upright position even though the carton is tipped to the extentnecessary to empty it. Also, the material poured into the cup maintains the cup in expanded condition while'it is being filled. In order to empty the cup it is only necessary to lift the bottom of the cup so that the material will pour over that portion of the rim 30 adjacent the flap 28 due to the flexible nature of the material out of which the cup is formed. Also, the cup may be emptied by closing section 22 of the top wall and flap 20 of the carton over the pour opening and tilting the carton and cup together.

Due to the collapsible nature of the cup it may, of course, be folded and removably fastened. to the outside ofthe carton for shipment; however, the cup is preferably carried inside the carton until used as shown in Figure 2. Flap 28 of the cup is attached to the inside surface of end wall 16 and the cup folded to lie in the space available between the contents of the carton 36 and the inside surface of the top wall 14. The end 32 of the cup opposite the flap 28 is positioned adjacent the pour opening 12 so that the cup may be withdrawn through the pour opening after the .carton has been opened. If desired, end 32 of the cup may be removably attached to the underside of section 22 or flap 28 by a suitable adthesive so that the cup is lifted out when the carton is opened. The cup may be provided with suitable indi-cia 34 dividing the cup into one or more measured quantities.

Having thus described the many useful and novel features of the combined dispensing carton and measuring device of the present invention it will be seen that the many useful objects for which it was developed have been achieved; and therefore, I claim:

1. A dispensing container and measuring device .comprising in combination: a dispensing container provided with a pour opening; and, a measuring cup attached along a portion of the rim thereof to the container and suspended beneath the pour opening in position to receive the contents of said container when dispensed through said pour opening, said cup being foldable into collapsed position following each use without detaching same from the container.

2. A dispensing container and measuring device comprising in combination: a dispensing container provided with a pour opening; and, a measuring cup attached along a portion of the rim thereof to the container and suspended beneath the pour opening in position to receive the contents of said container when dispensed through said pour opening, said cup being foldable for insertion through the pour opening and storage inside the container when not in use while still attached to said container.

3. A dispensing container and measuringdevice comprising in combination: a carton having a top and bottom wall, side walls and end walls, one of said end walls having a pour opening therein; and, a foldable measuring cup having a flap extending from its rim, said flap being attached to the end wall having the pour opening along the lower edge of said opening, said cup being folded within the container with the end thereof opposite the flap accessible from outside the carton through the pour opening, and said cup when unfolded and withdrawn from the carton through the pour opening being positioned beneath the pour opening to receive the contents of the carton as they are dispensed through said opening.

Patented Nov. 13, 1956 4; A dispensing container and measuring device comprising in combination: a carton having a top and bottom wall, side Walls and end walls, one of said end walls having a tear line spaced below the top wall forming means forfreeing a flap from said endv wall and thereby providing'" a pour opening therein; and, a collapsible measuring cup having a flap extending from its rim, said'flap being attached to the inside surface of the endwall adjacent the tea'r'lind's'aid cup being normally folded'inside the carton in position to. be withdrawn through the pour opening, and'said cup when unfolded and withdrawn from the carton beingpositioned-beneath the pour opening to receive the contents of the carton" as they are dispensed 'throu'gh saidopen'ingj.

5 A 'device in accordance with claim 4 in which the end ofthe cup opposite the end thereof having the flap is References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Weil July 11, 1916 Schreuders Oct. 6, 1936 

